painted in blue and white, skorpa felt himself stretched too full with feasting, heady with fermented flora. it was a more jubilant feast than he had ever recalled, and only with a dane's internal twinge did skorpa find rejoicing too in the fact that there was no battle to be fought thereafter.
his thickly accented tongue loosened with the plumfruit; skorpa by turns sang aloud some flyt, or caught ayovi into his arms for a gentle dance that hopefully did not jostle her so much.
the sound of life and of delight and of spring was all around them.
their family was whole, their trusted ones here.
skorpa was content, turning now for a refreshing drink of mintwater as burnbrand eyes searched among the faces.
April 20, 2025, 02:20 PM
He had ridden half a moon eastward, scaling the craggy mountain range and many pitted forests to attend the ceremony. He’d introduced himself as an envoy of the Khan, extended as an opened palm across the steppe. But Jamukha had seen northern paws before. They often held daggers behind their backs.
“Man of the hour,” he rumbles, coming upon the dane with the fire-pelt he recognized from the ceremony. "Tillykke. Pretty family,” Jamukha palms a plum then turns to face the dancers.
“Where are your beserkers, Jarl?”
“Man of the hour,” he rumbles, coming upon the dane with the fire-pelt he recognized from the ceremony. "Tillykke. Pretty family,” Jamukha palms a plum then turns to face the dancers.
“Where are your beserkers, Jarl?”
April 20, 2025, 03:43 PM
in good humour, skorpa received this stranger: strongly built and haughty-eyed. danish was in his mouth, and the bearsword looked more closely at this visitor to niende dag. "de er ude og halshugge spioner," skorpa uttered warmly to this immediate probe of winsook's defense.
face split in a grin already stained by blood.
a strip of meat was chewed in seeming cud, but burning eyes did not remove themselves now.
April 20, 2025, 04:25 PM
The jarl’s eyes flash. He stands a head higher and the rider must cock his snout to share a grin.
“Wise man. Hear there’s been an influx of… væslinger in the North. Can’t be too cautious.” The mongol need make no further elaboration. The nords are a proud people, and he would not risk pissing this one off on his own land. Still, he found most men loosened over a drink. The north and it's players intrigued the horselord, if only for his own interest. He jaws at the sweet fruit, draining it free of juice then turns once more to the flamepelt.
“Jamukha, emissary for Khan Qaidu.”
“Wise man. Hear there’s been an influx of… væslinger in the North. Can’t be too cautious.” The mongol need make no further elaboration. The nords are a proud people, and he would not risk pissing this one off on his own land. Still, he found most men loosened over a drink. The north and it's players intrigued the horselord, if only for his own interest. He jaws at the sweet fruit, draining it free of juice then turns once more to the flamepelt.
“Jamukha, emissary for Khan Qaidu.”
April 20, 2025, 04:39 PM
it was neither confirmed nor denied, only accepted with a nod. "skorpa of the white jaw," came utterance, flattered despite the fact he should not be by the repeated title.
jarl.
once, in a far distant life, he might have been.
"khan qaidu. he lives far then," skorpa observed, pressing assumption to see if it would be accepted. "you have known danes?"
April 20, 2025, 05:17 PM
Nodding, he swallows the plumskin. “Few. You northern men like to stick to your own kind.”
The jade gaze runs over this one’s icy wife as she dances through the throngs, “though maybe you’re an exception, Skorpa.”
The mongol curls his lip, reaching for another two fruits. He offers one to the Jarl and takes a healthy bite of the second.
“I travel a road that spans the wilds. When next I come to Winsook, I will bring you jewels and spices from my people in exchange for your hospitality.”
The jade gaze runs over this one’s icy wife as she dances through the throngs, “though maybe you’re an exception, Skorpa.”
The mongol curls his lip, reaching for another two fruits. He offers one to the Jarl and takes a healthy bite of the second.
“I travel a road that spans the wilds. When next I come to Winsook, I will bring you jewels and spices from my people in exchange for your hospitality.”
April 20, 2025, 05:45 PM
bearman's eyes followed the line of those others to ayovi. he admired her there, seeing how hale she was despite the ordeal of their children's birth. he did not need to possess. jamukha seemed to understand the interplay of men.
he offered fruits and a grand gift. skorpa turned it between his paws before a bite smeared the air, filled his mouth with a fragrant sweet. "you may lay your head here again, svend," he decided, holding the eyes of this emissary. "hvad vil din khan have fra winsook?"
he remained affable. they were both men who understood transaction.
April 20, 2025, 06:19 PM
“A gateway to the North,” the nomad says bluntly, for he has no reason to lie. “The khagan desires trade, and a means in which to create it. Quaidu is a wealthy man, but the steppe does not have your resources. Nor do you have our’s.”
Jamukha waits for the jarl's bite before mouthing his own fruit.
"We will extend the same generosity. You and your clan will be welcomed as honored guests upon the Steppe."
Jamukha waits for the jarl's bite before mouthing his own fruit.
"We will extend the same generosity. You and your clan will be welcomed as honored guests upon the Steppe."
April 20, 2025, 10:20 PM
trade. a waypoint for this khan to find his way into the north. skorpa mouthed the fruit again as he considered. there was no reason to say no, more to say yes. excess was not something he pursued any longer, but the idea of ayovi swathed in wealth from far beyond was an image most appealing.
"then we will come."
the plum fruits, knocked together.
"skål, jamukha. tonight we feast as brothers."
April 21, 2025, 02:59 PM
“Skål!” The man raises his fist, downing the remainder of his plum before projecting the pit out into the snow behind them. He has become more aware of drunken laughter thickening the air.
Jamukha nods farewell to the White Jaw nord and steps inline with a throng of his dancers. Politics at rest, the traveller enjoys the close jostling of Winsook women, catching the scintillation of multi-colored eyes as they are lit by the feast.
Jamukha nods farewell to the White Jaw nord and steps inline with a throng of his dancers. Politics at rest, the traveller enjoys the close jostling of Winsook women, catching the scintillation of multi-colored eyes as they are lit by the feast.
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